Absorption refrigerating-machine.



No. 638,49I. Patented Dec. 5, |899. F. ALLEN. ABSUBPTION REFRIGERATINGMACHINE.

(Application led. July 29, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 638,49l. Patented Dec. 5, |899. F. ALLEN.

l ABSDRPTIUN BEFRIGERATING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 29, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 638,49I. Patented Dec. 5, |899. F. ALLEN. ABSDRPTION BEFRIGEBATINGMACHINE, (Application filed July 29, 1899.) (No Model.)

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4 I l4 TTOHNEYS.

UNrTnn STATES PATTNT i Tries.

FRANK ALLEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ALLEN ICE MACHINECOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ABSORPTION VRTE'FRIGERATING--IV'IACi-HNE.;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,491, dated December5, 1899. Application led July 2Q, 1899. Serial No. 725,451. (No model.)

To4 ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city of New York, in the borough of Brooklyn and State of NewYork, have invented certain neW and useful Improvements in AbsorptionRefrigerating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in absorptionrefrigerating-machines, for Which Letters Patent of the United Stateswere granted to me under date of June 28, 1898, No. 606,326, saidimprovements being designed for simplifying the construction of themachine described in said Letters Patent for running the entire machineby exhauststeam delivered from the different pumps used in connectionwith the machine, so that the use of live steam is entirely dispensedwith, and thereby a very economical Workin g of the machine produced.This result of operating the refrigerating-machine solely by means ofexhaust-steam can only be obtained by the absorption of the heat unitsof the hot ammonia-gases as they are conducted from the generator to thecondenser bythe cold returning ammonia-Water on the one hand and by theutilization of the cold obtained by the expansion of the liquid-ammoniaby the Weak ammonia-Water on the other hand, this equalization of thetemperatures of the hot and cold gases and liquids being carried onthroughout the entire cycle, so that the very effective and economicalrunning of the refrigeratingmacnine is obtained.

My invention consists, therefore, of a refrigerating-machine in Whichthe absorption of the expanding ammonia-gases by the Weakabsorption-Water is accomplished by means of a preliminary absorber anda nal absorber, in connection With a gas-pump for facilitating the Workof the absorbers, While the heating of the strong ammonia-Water on itsreturn to the generator is accomplished by means of a primary equalizingcoil, through the interior pipe of which the hot ammoniavapors areconducted, a second equalizingcoil through the interior pipe of whichthe hot Weak ammonia-Water coming from the generator is conducted, andfinally by an eX- haust-steam heater in Which the exhaustinto thegenerator.

steam from one or more of the operatingpumps of the machine iscollected, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and finallypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a diagram showinginelevation the parts of my improved absorption refrigerating-machine.Fig. 2 is an elevation of that portion of the machine adjacent to thegenerator in Which the strong ammonia-Water returned from the absorberis gradually heated up in its course in the generator; and Fig. 3 is aperspective View of the expansion side of the machine, showing thepreliminary and final absorber and its connection With thebrine-coolerand liquid-ammonia receiver.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre? sponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the generator or still, which ischarged with commercial aqua-ammonia. The generator is heated by a coila, through which exhaust-steam from the engine of the circulating andammonia pumps P is circulated, the heat of the exhaust-steam liberatingthe ammonia-vapors from the liquid. The pump P serves for conducting thestrong ammonia-Water from the absorber to the primary equalizing-coihthcexhaust-steam of its engine being supplied to the coil ct of thegenerator, it being one of the pumps that is keptcontinuously running aslong as the refrigerating-machine is in use and can supply, therefore, auniform quantity of exhaust-steam to the generator. The generator isprovided with an upright cylinder A', in Which an equalizing-coil isarranged through Which the strong am monia-Water is returned The uprightcylinder A is connected at its bottom, as well as by branch pipes, withthe horizontal portion of the generator. From the top of the uprightcylinder A of the generator A the hot ammonia-vapors liberated from theammonia-Water are conducted by a pipe ct to the interior pipe a2 of theprimary equalizing-coilB, While the eX- terior pipe Z? serves for thepassage of the strong ammonia-Water that is returned from the absorberby the pump P.

monia-Water having been cooled to a low temperature in the absorber issupplied from the pump P by the pipe b to the upper end of the Thestrong am- IOO exterior coil b and conducted in a countercurrent to thehot ammonia-vapors through the primary equaliZing-coil B. The hotarninonia-vapors are then conducted from the interior pipe d2 by a pipea3 to the upper end of a condenser C, which is cooled by means of coldwater that is supplied by a spray-pipe above the condenser, as shown inFig. l. In the condenser C the ammonia-vapors are liquefied andconducted by a pipe d4, connected with the lower end of thecondenser-coil, to the liquid-ammonia jar or receiver L, whichis1ocated,preferably, on the same floor or level with the generator. Thehot am monia-vapors are thus gradually cooled down to the point ofliquefaction, first in their passage through the primary equalizing-coiland then in their passage through the condensing-coil. From theliquid-ammonia receiver L the liquid-ammonia is permitted to expand bymeans of two expansion-pipes a6 al, which are each provided with astop-cock, into the headers E' of a brine-cooler E and from the headersE into two systems of expanding` pipes that are surrounded by twosystems of exterior pipes for the brine to be cooled. The brine-cooler Eis composed of two sets of brine-cooling coils having headers at thelower and upper ends. To thelower headers the expanded arnmonia-Vaporsare supplied, while the upper header E2 is connected by a pipe d8 withthe iinal absorber H. The upper ends of theinterior coils of thebrine-cooler E are connected with a header E3, which is connected by apipe c with the brine-supply pump P', the inletport of which isconnected with a brine-tank E4 by a pipe e'. The brine-tank is locatedin any suitable position relatively to the ref rigerating-1nachineproper. The lower ends of the interior brine-coils are connected with aheader E5, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, and from this header the coldbrine is conducted by a pipe e2 to the place of use.

The brine-cooler is preferably divided into two or more systems, each ofwhich is coinposed of a number of individual coils. This is done for thepurpose of producing a smaller or larger quantity of brine, according torequirements. ln hot weather all the coil systems of the brine-coolerare used, while in cooler weather one-half the coils, or even a smallern'umber of the coils, of the same may be required for use.

Theheaderl2 at the upper end ofthe brinecooler is connected by the pipea8 with the lower end of the final absorber H and with the interior coilof the same, said interior coil being surrounded by an exterior coilthrough which the stron g am monia-water is conducted. Above the finalabsorber is arranged a preliminary absorber H', the lower header ofwhich is connected with the upper header of the final absorber H, whileits upper header is connected with the weak-ammonia-water cooler F. Theweak-ammonia-water cooler F is connected in the same manner as thecondenser C and supplied with cooling-water by a spray-pipe above thesame. The weak ammonia-water is forced by the pressure in the generatorfrom the saine through a pipe f, having a stop-cock fx, and through theinterior pipe of a secondary equalizing-coil I, while the exterior pipeof the coil I is connected at its upper end by a pipe i with theexterior pipe of the primary equaliZing-coil B, as shown clearly inFigs. l and 2. The upper end of the interior pipe of the secondaryequalizing-coil I is connected by a pipe f with the lower end of theweak-ammoniawater cooler. The hot weak ammonia-water gradually gives outit-s heat to the strong ammonia water, which is returned by the pump Pfrom the absorber H and the receiver R for the strong ammonia-water, soas to heat the same preliminarily in its return to the generator. Theweak am monia-water passes then to the cooler F. It is then conductedfrom the upper end of the same by means of an injector h into the upperend of the preliminary absorber H', the upper end ot' which is connectedby a pipe 7L with the interior pipe of the final absorber. As the weakammonia-water is forced under a certain pressure into the upper end ofthe preliminary absorber H', it carries along the cold ammonia-vapors,which are cooled in the coil of the preliminary absorber and absorbed bythe weak ammonia-water in its passage through the preliminaryabsorberand conducted then into the final absorber, in the coils ofwhich the final absorption of any unabsorbed vapors Takes place at stilllower temperature, so that the chilled strong ammonia-water is returnedfrom the lower end of the final absorber H by the pipe h2 into thestrong-ammonia-water receiver R, then lifted by the pump to the primaryequalizing-coil B, and conducted from the same to the secondaryequalizing-coil I, as before described. From the lower end of the innerpipe of the coil I the strong ammonia-water is conducted by a pipe t',connected with the inner pipe to a coil m at the interior of anexhaust-steam heater M, said exhaust-steam heater being connected withlthe exhaust-port of the steam-engine of the brine-pump P' or with anyother pump of the machine, the outgoing pipe of the exhauststeam coilbeing connected with the atmosphere. At the interior of theexhaust-steam heater M are arranged two coilsm m', one running in onedirection and the other in the ICO IOS

opposite direction, the upper end of the second coil being finallyconnect-ed by a pipe n with a coil m2 iu the upright cylinder A' of thegenerator A, and then delivered to the lower horizontal part of thegenerator, as shown clearlyin Fig. l. The strong ammoniaerator and insuch condition that the ammonia vapors can be quickly evaporated againby the heat of the exhaust-steam coil in the same, so as to be sentagain through the machine in the same continuous cycle as beforedescribed.

A gas-pump P2 is connected with the pipe h, by which the interiorexpanding pipe of the final absorber H is connected with the upper endof the preliminary absorber H. The pipe h is provided with a stop-cockh3 and connected by branch pipes h4 and h5, respectively at each side ofthe stop-cock h3, with the inlet and outlet ports of the gaspump P2, asshown in Fig. 3. The exhaustport of the steam-engine which operates thegas-pump is preferably connected with the exhaust-steam heater or theexhaust-steam is permitted to pass off into the atmosphere in case thebrine-pump supplies a sufficient quantity of exhaust-steam for theproper working of the generator. The gas-pump is started whenever in-Warmer weather the refrigerating-machine is to be run at its fullcapacity, in which case the intermediate stopcock h3 is closed andconnection made with the ports of the gas-pump P2 by opening thestop-cocks of the pipes h4 h5. When during colder weather a smallerquantity of cold is to be supplied by the refrigerating-machine, thegas-pump is cut out byA closing the stopcocks in the pipes h4 and h5 andopening the intermediate stop-cock h2. By means of the gas-pump P2 therefrigerating-machine can be run at its full capacity Whenever requiredby the outside temperature or at reduced capacity, the gas-pum pforming, in connection with the sectional brine-cooler, a very effectivemeans of regulating the capacity of the refrigerating-machine andadapting it to the work required to be performed at differenttemperatures. The gas pump also serves y for drawing the expandedammonia-gases through the quter pipes of the brine-cooler and theinterior, pipe of the final absorber, so as to produce a lower pressure'in said pipe and accelerate the motion to the ammoniavapors through thepipes and the production of a lower degree of temperature.

lt appears from the foregoing that the weak ammonia-water is cooled bytwo successive steps-first, by the cooling action of the secondaryequalizing-coil I, and, secondly, by the action of theweak-ammonia-water cooler, so as to be reduced in temperaturepreparatory to its reabsorption by the cooled expanded ammonia-vapors.This reabsorption takes place in the preliminary and nal absorbers, thestrong ammonia-water being delivered from the latter at the lowtemperature of the expanding ammonia vapors. This chilled strongammonia-water is then during its return to the generator subjected tothree successive heating actions-first, in the primary equalizing-coil Bto the heating action of the hot ammonia-vapors coming from thegenerator; secondly, in the secondary equalizing-coil to the action ofthe hot Weak ammonia water, and, lastly, in the exhauststeam heater tothe heat of the exhaust-steam in the same, so that in this manner theheat of the hotvammonia-vapors of the weak ammonia-water and of theexhaust-steam of the different pumps is utilized for raising thetemperature of the chilled strong ammoniawater, while the lowtemperature of the expanding ammonia-gas is utilized for cooling thebrine required and for producing the final absorption of the weak ammonia-Water with the expanded ammonia-vapors, all these steps togethertending to great economy of fuel as compared with the absorptionrefrigeratingmachines heretofore in use, in which the generators havebeen run by live steam.

Having thus described my invention, I claimas new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- '1. The combination, with a generator, of aheating-coil Within the same, a pump for returning the strongammonia-water to the generator, a pipe connecting the heating-coil inthe generator with the exhaust-port of one or more pump-engines, aprimary equalizingcoil connected with the outlet-port of saidV pumps andcomposed of an interior coil for the hot ammonia-vapors andan outer coilfor the strong ammonia-water, asecondary equalizing-oil, the outer coilof which is connected with the outer coil of the primary equalizingcoiland the interior coil of which is connected with the generator forconducting off the weak ammonia-Water, an exhaust-steam heater suppliedwith exhaust-steam, a coil in said exhaust-steam heater connected Wit-hthe outer pipe of the secondary equalizing-coil, and a pipe connectingthe coil in the exhauststeam heater with the generator for conductingthe heated strong ammonia-water back to the generator, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination, witha preliminary absorber, of a cooler for the weakammonia-water connected with said preliminary absorber, a final absorbercomposed of an outer and an interior coil, the outer coil beingconnected with the preliminary absorber while the interior coil isconnected with the liquid-ammonia receiver for conducting the expandedam monia-gases to the preliminary absorber, a pipe connecting theinterior coil of the final absorber with the upper end of thepreliminary absorber, a gas-pump, valved pipes connecting the suctionand force ports of said pump with the pipe leading to the preliminaryabsorber connected with said connecting-pipe, and a stop-cock located insaid connectingpipe intermediately between the suction and force pipesof the gas-pump, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a brine-cooler, consisting of a number ofcoils, each composed of an interior and an exterior pipe, of abrine-supply pump connected with the interior pipes of said coils, aliquid-ammonia receiver, pipes connecting said receiver with IIO theexterior pipes of the brine-cooler, a receiver for the strongammonia-water, a final absorber composed of an exterior and an interiorpipe, a pipe connecting the exterior pipes of the brine-cooler with theinterior pipes of the final absorber, a pipe connecting the lower end ofthe exterior pipe of the iinal absorber with the strong` ammonia waterreceiver, a preliminary absorber connected with the upper end of theexterior pipe of the iinal absorber, and a pipe connecting the interiorcoil of the final absorber with the upper end of the preliminaryabsorber so that the available cold of the expanded ammonia-vapors isutilized in the final absorber for chilling the strong ammonia-waterformed in the preliminary and final absorbers, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination, with a generator, of a heating-coil, in the same, acirculating-pump, the exhaust-port of which is connected with theheating-coil, an outlet-pipe for the hot ammonia -vapors, a primaryequalizing coil comprising an interior coil for the hot ammonia-vaporsand an exterior coil for the strong ani moniawater,a condenser connectedwith the interior coil of said primary equalizing-coil, a secondaryequalizing-coil comprising an interior coil for the weak ammoniawater,and an exterior coil for the stropg ammonia-water7 a pipe connecting'the generator p with the interior coil of the secondary equalizing-coil,a pipe connecting the exterior coil ofthe primary and secondaryequalizing-coils, a cooler for the weak ammonia-water, connected withthe interior coil of the secondary equalizer, a preliminary absorberconnected with the weak-ammonia-water cooler, a final absorbercomprising` an interior coil and an exterior coil, the latter connectedwith the lower end of the preliminary absorber, a pipe connecting theinterior coil of the final absorber with the upper end of thepreliminary absorber, a receiver for the liquid ammonia connected withthe condenser, a receiver for the strong ammonia-water connected withthe lower end of the final absorber and with the primaryequalizing-coil, a brine-cooler comprising an interior coil and anexterior coil, a brine-supply pump connected with the interior coil,pipes connecting the liquid-ammonia receiver with the exterior coils ofthe brinecooler, and a pipe connecting the exterior coils of thebrine-cooler with the interior coil of `the linal absorber,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK ALLEN.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, M. I-I. WURTZEL.

